Hmmm, so things were going so well I guess I thought it was like magic, I was eating less and moving more and losing weight. I was happy with my progress. But, the weather got rainy and humid and I was working some crazy hours, and I decided that I didn't have to use my food journal, I would be fine without it. I didn't think I needed my 100 calorie snacks twice a day and I certainly thought that skipping my water intake for a soda once in a while wouldn't hurt anyone.
Well, I'm here to tell you that if you find a system that is working for you, stay with it and improve it as you go. I was doing exactly that. I realized that we run our dishwasher every 3 days so I bought another set of measuring cups so I would always have one clean set to use. I use a food journal available on my Droid so that it would always be available. I gave myself the right tools for the job. My mentor has said that even if you have everything you need for success if your head isn't in it, you wont reach that goal. My mentor is right.
I stopped using the tools I had because I thought I could do this on my own, I was wrong and to show me how wrong I was my body retaliated with a 3 pound weight gain. I wouldn't have believed the scale, but I went back and weighed myself 3 times (once for each pound I suppose) and yep, there is was a number that was 3 more than the last time I had weighed (did I mention I put my bathroom scale on my no longer needed list? Well that was a mistake!).
I'm happy to report that those pesky three pounds are gone and I am back on track. I have reduced my calorie intake and am recording it in my food journal. I am using all the resources I had found previously and I have refocused to be even better. I have found a Zumba class and am starting in September, and as much as I dislike going outside and sweating, I have been walking too. I felt like I had come too far to let go. I know now that I don't just need to do this, this set back showed me that I want to.
Until next time...this is Ginny reporting from Back on the Wagon.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Things That Go Crunch
Since this journey includes a chance to learn to love low carb food, I really miss things that go crunch and sweets. It is peach season after all and usually we make at least one peach pie to have with ice cream. we have been really good, while we still buy peaches each week at the store, we have not made peach pie this year but that doesn't mean we don't crave at least something that resembles it.
Finding substitutions worth doing more than once is what I am finding to be a challenge so today I set out to replace peach pie in our diet. and this is what I did:
I took 1 peach peeled and pitted and sliced it as thin as I possibly could I sprayed my skillet with cooking spray and sauteed them until they were soft. while they were cooking over a low heat (all that sugar could make them burn so keep a close eye on them) I sprayed a custard cup with non stick cooking spray and lined it with a sheet of phyllo dough, when my peach was heated through and soft, I put it in the cup over the phyllo dough and over that I put 1tsp of raw sugar, place another piece of phyllo dough over the top, folding it to fit, I put 1 tsp Smart Balance Buttery Spread on top of my little pie, made a slit in the top to allow steam to escape and baked it for about 15 minutes at 350. Yummy goodness.
I found another useful website online: www.caloriecount.about.com go the the Foods tab, in the drop down box choose new Recipe. You can enter your recipe on that page and it will calculate the nutritional information and even give you pros and cons for each recipe. So I did that for this "almost peach pie" recipe and this is what I got:78 calories, 2 grams fat, 16 gr carbs 1.5 gr fiber.
Also, since we live in Florida, we have a rainy season, which feels long and boring and usually we indulge with comfort food. We feel stuck in the house all day not much feeling like venturing out into the pouring rain. But again we have done quite well so far this year.
Browsing through a Paula Deen's Best Dishes 2010 issue I found a Chicken Pot Pie Recipe. Now, I realize that Paula and low fat/carb don't exactly go together but this time it does and let me tell you, this is so good and so easy. it offers a creamy goodness and a nice crunch. Daring to "tweek" Paula's perfection, I have done my own version, not much different from hers:
1T olive oil
1/2 Cup each chopped carrots, celery, onion
1/2 Cup white wine
2 10 oz cans reduced fat/sodium cream of chicken soup
1/2 t dried parsley
1/4 t each garlic powder, salt, ground black pepper
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 Cup fat free or light sour cream
8 phylo dough sheets (be sure to keep covered with damp towel, its a hard lesson if you don't)
Non-stick cooking spray(I prefer butter flavor)
Preheat over to 350
Spray four 2 c ramekins with cooking spray
In skillet over med-hi heat saute' carrots, celery and onion until tender
Add wine and cook until it reduces by 1/2 (this does not take long so keep an eye on it)
In a large bowl combine soup, sour cream, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper, stir in veggies and chicken
Spoon into ramekins
Spray a sheet of phyllo dough with cooking spray and place over ramekin spray and place the second sheet cross wise folding each sheet over to fit.
Run a knife through the center of each pot pie to allow steam to escape.
bake until golden brown (about 15 minutes)
Here are the facts according to that handy website:
351 calories, 19 grams fat, 6 grams carbs
Mmmmm...tastes like comfort to me!
Finding substitutions worth doing more than once is what I am finding to be a challenge so today I set out to replace peach pie in our diet. and this is what I did:
I took 1 peach peeled and pitted and sliced it as thin as I possibly could I sprayed my skillet with cooking spray and sauteed them until they were soft. while they were cooking over a low heat (all that sugar could make them burn so keep a close eye on them) I sprayed a custard cup with non stick cooking spray and lined it with a sheet of phyllo dough, when my peach was heated through and soft, I put it in the cup over the phyllo dough and over that I put 1tsp of raw sugar, place another piece of phyllo dough over the top, folding it to fit, I put 1 tsp Smart Balance Buttery Spread on top of my little pie, made a slit in the top to allow steam to escape and baked it for about 15 minutes at 350. Yummy goodness.
I found another useful website online: www.caloriecount.about.com go the the Foods tab, in the drop down box choose new Recipe. You can enter your recipe on that page and it will calculate the nutritional information and even give you pros and cons for each recipe. So I did that for this "almost peach pie" recipe and this is what I got:78 calories, 2 grams fat, 16 gr carbs 1.5 gr fiber.
Also, since we live in Florida, we have a rainy season, which feels long and boring and usually we indulge with comfort food. We feel stuck in the house all day not much feeling like venturing out into the pouring rain. But again we have done quite well so far this year.
Browsing through a Paula Deen's Best Dishes 2010 issue I found a Chicken Pot Pie Recipe. Now, I realize that Paula and low fat/carb don't exactly go together but this time it does and let me tell you, this is so good and so easy. it offers a creamy goodness and a nice crunch. Daring to "tweek" Paula's perfection, I have done my own version, not much different from hers:
1T olive oil
1/2 Cup each chopped carrots, celery, onion
1/2 Cup white wine
2 10 oz cans reduced fat/sodium cream of chicken soup
1/2 t dried parsley
1/4 t each garlic powder, salt, ground black pepper
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 Cup fat free or light sour cream
8 phylo dough sheets (be sure to keep covered with damp towel, its a hard lesson if you don't)
Non-stick cooking spray(I prefer butter flavor)
Preheat over to 350
Spray four 2 c ramekins with cooking spray
In skillet over med-hi heat saute' carrots, celery and onion until tender
Add wine and cook until it reduces by 1/2 (this does not take long so keep an eye on it)
In a large bowl combine soup, sour cream, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper, stir in veggies and chicken
Spoon into ramekins
Spray a sheet of phyllo dough with cooking spray and place over ramekin spray and place the second sheet cross wise folding each sheet over to fit.
Run a knife through the center of each pot pie to allow steam to escape.
bake until golden brown (about 15 minutes)
Here are the facts according to that handy website:
351 calories, 19 grams fat, 6 grams carbs
Mmmmm...tastes like comfort to me!
Friday, August 5, 2011
The Right Tools For The Job
Often when people accomplish a goal, they let you in on the secrets that helped them after they have reached said goal. Not me, if I am having success with something I let everyone know right away. If you are reading this, you are interested (or a family member or friend that I have shamed into it) and if you are interested I feel like I should share what I use. these things work for me, and they are how I am seeing some moderate success on the scale.
Some helpful websites have been:
http://www.livestrong.com/ by the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I'm upset with Lance too, but hey, his website folks know how to put it together. I believe it recognizes that we aren't all going to go out and run a marathon or bicycle across France. It encourages you to eat healthy, get fit , be inspired and start tracking (it says so on the home page). I use the My Plate application on this website often.
http://www.cookinglight.com/ When I started this journey I had never eaten a lot of fish at home and I needed some ideas other than were in my cookbook because I am not a lover of salmon, which I used to eat in sushi until a certain friend ruined sushi for me (you know how you are). I turned to this website to give us variety in our diet. If we eat the same thing all the time, I get to the point that I don't want to cook it or eat it. I have truly learned that variety is the spice of life.
Cooking Light gives you the skinny(hahaha) on all the food you fix, making it easier to track (there is that word again).
The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook by Amy Riolo. This was my first tool. My brother and sister in law recommended it. On the cover it says a flavorful, low fat, heart-healthy approach to cooking. To heck with the other stuff, FLAVORFUL is the operative word here. these recipes are absolutely delicious and easy. If you decide to take this route read the first 16 pages before you decide to tackle the recipes. Chances are you will need ingredients that you don't have in your pantry and to be successful you don't want to improvise (it can throw off the count). If you get this book you will want to try the Caprese Style Chicken Breasts, these are so good, you will want extra for lunch the next day.
I think I have mentioned this before but I found an app on my Droid called Calorie Counter, its where I track what I eat and weigh. I always have my phone with me so its easy and convenient.
My Kindle and my sewing machine. In the evening when I get hungry I retreat to my favorite chair and read or I sew. So far I have completed 5 books (anyone have any suggestions for a good read?). I have a new tote bag and have another small throw started for Sarah's new apartment. My point is, get your mind off of food. It's like a habit, at a certain time every evening I would get hungry, but I wasn't really hungry, it was just something I would always do. Now I read or sew, these activities prove to be much more productive.
Common sense tools are measuring cups, spoons and a kitchen scale. I know eyeing it seems easier, but eyes lie. Measure, measure, measure, its truly the most fundamental rule of making changes in your diet.
Okay so the numbers, I weigh 16 pounds less than when I started.(the weather is not cooperating with my exercise program so I am seeking other venues...Zumba anyone?) My blood sugar is running between 99 and 110 (that's really good news).
Until next time, gotta sew now! (borrowed this from a friend, a lot of us know who)
Some helpful websites have been:
http://www.livestrong.com/ by the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I'm upset with Lance too, but hey, his website folks know how to put it together. I believe it recognizes that we aren't all going to go out and run a marathon or bicycle across France. It encourages you to eat healthy, get fit , be inspired and start tracking (it says so on the home page). I use the My Plate application on this website often.
http://www.cookinglight.com/ When I started this journey I had never eaten a lot of fish at home and I needed some ideas other than were in my cookbook because I am not a lover of salmon, which I used to eat in sushi until a certain friend ruined sushi for me (you know how you are). I turned to this website to give us variety in our diet. If we eat the same thing all the time, I get to the point that I don't want to cook it or eat it. I have truly learned that variety is the spice of life.
Cooking Light gives you the skinny(hahaha) on all the food you fix, making it easier to track (there is that word again).
The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook by Amy Riolo. This was my first tool. My brother and sister in law recommended it. On the cover it says a flavorful, low fat, heart-healthy approach to cooking. To heck with the other stuff, FLAVORFUL is the operative word here. these recipes are absolutely delicious and easy. If you decide to take this route read the first 16 pages before you decide to tackle the recipes. Chances are you will need ingredients that you don't have in your pantry and to be successful you don't want to improvise (it can throw off the count). If you get this book you will want to try the Caprese Style Chicken Breasts, these are so good, you will want extra for lunch the next day.
I think I have mentioned this before but I found an app on my Droid called Calorie Counter, its where I track what I eat and weigh. I always have my phone with me so its easy and convenient.
My Kindle and my sewing machine. In the evening when I get hungry I retreat to my favorite chair and read or I sew. So far I have completed 5 books (anyone have any suggestions for a good read?). I have a new tote bag and have another small throw started for Sarah's new apartment. My point is, get your mind off of food. It's like a habit, at a certain time every evening I would get hungry, but I wasn't really hungry, it was just something I would always do. Now I read or sew, these activities prove to be much more productive.
Common sense tools are measuring cups, spoons and a kitchen scale. I know eyeing it seems easier, but eyes lie. Measure, measure, measure, its truly the most fundamental rule of making changes in your diet.
Okay so the numbers, I weigh 16 pounds less than when I started.(the weather is not cooperating with my exercise program so I am seeking other venues...Zumba anyone?) My blood sugar is running between 99 and 110 (that's really good news).
Until next time, gotta sew now! (borrowed this from a friend, a lot of us know who)
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Left to My Own Devices
Recently Tom went on a guy vacation to North GA to ride motorcycles through the mountains with his friend Dave. Being home alone for a week I was kind of excited to have some time along to do what I wanted without considering anyone else. I was off to a grand start. I had dinner with a friend each night choosing carefully from websites prior to going out. Panera Bread has a wonderful website that allows me to plan my meal prior to eating there so that I know exactly what I am taking in and to be sure it fit into my meal plan for that day. Visit http://www.paneranutrition.com/ . Its a great tool.
When in doubt I order salads when Im not sure. On the Sunday I joined two pals at the Sunrise Theater in Fort Pierce FL (http://www.sunrisetheater.com/) to watch Gone With The Wind. It was wonderful to see it without commercial interruption and in a movie theater built in 1923. The intermission is long enough that we could go to the Original Tiki Bar (http://www.originaltikibar.com/) for dinner. When in doubt, I order salad. Their Citrus Salad is absolutely lovely. I also treated myself to a gin and tonic that day. It tasted wonderful on a such a hot day. We concluded that Ashley Wilkes just wasn't that into Scarlett O'Hara and it was just too late for she and Rhett. None the less we enjoyed the movie and seeing on a theater screen for free was a treat.
Tuesday night I met a friend at Pueblo Viejo,(http://www.puebloviejorestaraurants.com/) the best chips and salsa on the Treasure Coast. I had to have just a few. I also had a nice variety and ended up taking a lot of it home with me. What I know about "Pueblo" is that they make all their food from scratch and its fresh. I'm not sure how they make those chips that crispy, but they do and I am grateful. I notice that I don't eat as much as I used to and when I feel full I stop, I no longer want more so I no longer take more or try to get it all in at once. I took the tamale to work the next day for lunch, it was great and I enjoyed it more without that guilty self loathing stuffed feeling I used to have.
At the end of this eat out frenzy I was kind of nervous about the scale. What I learned was all the planning paid off, I had lost another pound that week and had such a great time in the process. Using websites and writing it all down, doing my homework and walking through the door knowing what I would order was extremely helpful. Occasional treats are fun and since often times socializing centers around food it felt good to handle it as well as I did.
Until next time remember to use the tools out there to help yurself get or stay healthy.
Onward!!!!
When in doubt I order salads when Im not sure. On the Sunday I joined two pals at the Sunrise Theater in Fort Pierce FL (http://www.sunrisetheater.com/) to watch Gone With The Wind. It was wonderful to see it without commercial interruption and in a movie theater built in 1923. The intermission is long enough that we could go to the Original Tiki Bar (http://www.originaltikibar.com/) for dinner. When in doubt, I order salad. Their Citrus Salad is absolutely lovely. I also treated myself to a gin and tonic that day. It tasted wonderful on a such a hot day. We concluded that Ashley Wilkes just wasn't that into Scarlett O'Hara and it was just too late for she and Rhett. None the less we enjoyed the movie and seeing on a theater screen for free was a treat.
Tuesday night I met a friend at Pueblo Viejo,(http://www.puebloviejorestaraurants.com/) the best chips and salsa on the Treasure Coast. I had to have just a few. I also had a nice variety and ended up taking a lot of it home with me. What I know about "Pueblo" is that they make all their food from scratch and its fresh. I'm not sure how they make those chips that crispy, but they do and I am grateful. I notice that I don't eat as much as I used to and when I feel full I stop, I no longer want more so I no longer take more or try to get it all in at once. I took the tamale to work the next day for lunch, it was great and I enjoyed it more without that guilty self loathing stuffed feeling I used to have.
At the end of this eat out frenzy I was kind of nervous about the scale. What I learned was all the planning paid off, I had lost another pound that week and had such a great time in the process. Using websites and writing it all down, doing my homework and walking through the door knowing what I would order was extremely helpful. Occasional treats are fun and since often times socializing centers around food it felt good to handle it as well as I did.
Until next time remember to use the tools out there to help yurself get or stay healthy.
Onward!!!!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Turkey for Tom? I'm Hopeful!
Recently as I was chopping fresh dill and getting out the Dijon mustard, I asked Tom if he would have a turkey burger. He crunched up his nose and said no. but offered to grill mine, I said no but we decided we could time it right to eat together so we set out to do exactly that.
I had all kinds of things to put on my burger, a nice slice of tomato, feta cheese, a slice of Vidalia onion, fresh ground pepper.This was going to be a work of art.
I stop to reread my recipe, just to be sure I got this, Tom scoffs, takes his burger from the box and heads for the grill.
Tom makes about 4 trips into the kitchen to peer over my shoulder "just seeing what you're doing Honey...mmmm smells good"
I brush my onion with olive oil take it out and place it on the grill...Tom frowns and moves it explaining that it shouldn't be over a direct flame. (Tom is our grill master)
I ask "Do you want a slice for your burger?"
"Nah, but thanks" I shrug and return to the kitchen.
I take my skillet from the burner and put it in the oven to let the cheese melt. I toast the bun just a little to give it some crunch. I make salads while it finishes baking.
I stick my head out the door, "You about finished?"
"Well my burger is but I don't know about your onion."
"It doesn't have to be charred, it just needs to be grilled"
Tom sighs "okay" shakes his head.
We sit down and begin eating. I construct my burger, and it looks really good, Tom looks at mine and at his then at mine again, he sighs, "looks good but how does it taste?"
I tell him I will let him know.
He says his looks flat, he is right it does look flat.
I finish my salad and start on my burger it's absolutely yummy and I "mmmm" my way through it. I get full and stop eating and offer the rest to Tom, he declines my offer. I ask how his is, he says he thinks the frozen patties are stale but finishes anyway.
I smile and ask if he will try mine next time and he said something I didn't think he ever would.
"Maybe, if it looks like that."
Wow, the man who swore off all things ground turkey just said "maybe" !
I'm hopeful.
I had all kinds of things to put on my burger, a nice slice of tomato, feta cheese, a slice of Vidalia onion, fresh ground pepper.This was going to be a work of art.
I stop to reread my recipe, just to be sure I got this, Tom scoffs, takes his burger from the box and heads for the grill.
Tom makes about 4 trips into the kitchen to peer over my shoulder "just seeing what you're doing Honey...mmmm smells good"
I brush my onion with olive oil take it out and place it on the grill...Tom frowns and moves it explaining that it shouldn't be over a direct flame. (Tom is our grill master)
I ask "Do you want a slice for your burger?"
"Nah, but thanks" I shrug and return to the kitchen.
I take my skillet from the burner and put it in the oven to let the cheese melt. I toast the bun just a little to give it some crunch. I make salads while it finishes baking.
I stick my head out the door, "You about finished?"
"Well my burger is but I don't know about your onion."
"It doesn't have to be charred, it just needs to be grilled"
Tom sighs "okay" shakes his head.
We sit down and begin eating. I construct my burger, and it looks really good, Tom looks at mine and at his then at mine again, he sighs, "looks good but how does it taste?"
I tell him I will let him know.
He says his looks flat, he is right it does look flat.
I finish my salad and start on my burger it's absolutely yummy and I "mmmm" my way through it. I get full and stop eating and offer the rest to Tom, he declines my offer. I ask how his is, he says he thinks the frozen patties are stale but finishes anyway.
I smile and ask if he will try mine next time and he said something I didn't think he ever would.
"Maybe, if it looks like that."
Wow, the man who swore off all things ground turkey just said "maybe" !
I'm hopeful.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Not Just About The Scale
Often as I write I'm so excited to report what I have lost and gained, I haven't mentioned what I notice physically. Besides the number on the scale and glucometer, I have gone down one size in pants. I'm not just trying to downsize my bod, but my closet as well (Tom will be happy about that). I'm not a vane person but it will be nice to be smaller than the average size, offering a more diverse wardrobe (and of course more shopping, which will not make Tom happy).
Another thing I have ignored is the fact that I have converted some favorite recipes to my new way of thinking. Not to say that I have found a low carb, low calorie cake with flavor (lets be realistic) butI have converted a recipe given to me by a high school friend for taste of home loose meat sandwiches (you know what I mean if you are from the QC's and if you aren't trust me you need to try this). It really wasn't that difficult to make it work, turkey tends to be a bit less flavorful that ground beef so season as needed but the recipe works for a nice flavorful lunch. I have it on a whole wheat bun with a salad and whole grain cheese Pringles (not exactly fries and an infamous chocolate shake but hey, I'm trying to be healthy).
Also, I have tried to love diet soda, I really have, but that aftertaste just stays with me and I don't care for it. This said, for now iced tea or water with lemon is my drink of choice. I have also discovered Mio. (I'm sure it has artificial sweetener in it but it doesn't leave the aftertaste) Mio offers some variety and the little container snaps tight and I can throw it in my bag. If I don't have my usual amount of water I can tell the difference so I drink what all I want during the day. I read that often thirst is mistaken for hunger, consequentially, if I feel hungry I drink a glass of water and typically it fills me up. Of course a cup of coffee in the morning with my regular creamer (now I measure it so that I can record it) remains part of my morning routine.
At first I ignored the advise of two small 100 calorie snacks, but now they are like a religion for me. An apple, banana, frozen grapes are refreshing this time of year, and of course my beloved Pringles. These small snacks prevent afternoon lulls and I'm not ravished by dinner time. It allows me to take my time making dinner and cuts down on after work snacking.
Planning meals has become a valuable use of time. Knowing what we are having for dinner helps me carefully plan lunch and breakfast.
I realize that I am not breaking any records on a speedy loss, but often slow and steady wins a race. As I said when I started the journey, I want to become a student and that doesnt happen over night. I take suggestions from my mentor and I read all I can about what may help me reach this goal. I'm always willing to try something new (except maybe skydiving which has nothing to do with weight loss).
Following is my healthy alternative to the famous loose meat sandwich that I spoke of earlier. if you want to "kick it old school" use lean ground beef and you can even rinse it before you add the ingredients.
You will need:
1 pound ground lean ground turkey
2T apple cider vinegar
1t salt
2T prepared mustard
2T ketchup
2T onion flakes (or less if you desire)
1 1/2 cups of boiling vegetable broth
Lightly brown the turkey breaking it up as you go. I boil the broth at the same time and add the onion flakes to the broth to soften them. Add the vinegar, salt, mustard and ketchup to the turkey then add the broth. Simmer until tender and moisture is absorbed, stirring occasionally so it doesn't stick.
I have it on a whole wheat bun with dill pickles, a slice of American cheese if you prefer and mustard (no ketchup is a tradition with this sandwich).
Let me know if you try this, and Id like to thank my HS classmate Tammy for the original recipe a couple of years ago. We have used it often.
Another thing I have ignored is the fact that I have converted some favorite recipes to my new way of thinking. Not to say that I have found a low carb, low calorie cake with flavor (lets be realistic) butI have converted a recipe given to me by a high school friend for taste of home loose meat sandwiches (you know what I mean if you are from the QC's and if you aren't trust me you need to try this). It really wasn't that difficult to make it work, turkey tends to be a bit less flavorful that ground beef so season as needed but the recipe works for a nice flavorful lunch. I have it on a whole wheat bun with a salad and whole grain cheese Pringles (not exactly fries and an infamous chocolate shake but hey, I'm trying to be healthy).
Also, I have tried to love diet soda, I really have, but that aftertaste just stays with me and I don't care for it. This said, for now iced tea or water with lemon is my drink of choice. I have also discovered Mio. (I'm sure it has artificial sweetener in it but it doesn't leave the aftertaste) Mio offers some variety and the little container snaps tight and I can throw it in my bag. If I don't have my usual amount of water I can tell the difference so I drink what all I want during the day. I read that often thirst is mistaken for hunger, consequentially, if I feel hungry I drink a glass of water and typically it fills me up. Of course a cup of coffee in the morning with my regular creamer (now I measure it so that I can record it) remains part of my morning routine.
At first I ignored the advise of two small 100 calorie snacks, but now they are like a religion for me. An apple, banana, frozen grapes are refreshing this time of year, and of course my beloved Pringles. These small snacks prevent afternoon lulls and I'm not ravished by dinner time. It allows me to take my time making dinner and cuts down on after work snacking.
Planning meals has become a valuable use of time. Knowing what we are having for dinner helps me carefully plan lunch and breakfast.
I realize that I am not breaking any records on a speedy loss, but often slow and steady wins a race. As I said when I started the journey, I want to become a student and that doesnt happen over night. I take suggestions from my mentor and I read all I can about what may help me reach this goal. I'm always willing to try something new (except maybe skydiving which has nothing to do with weight loss).
Following is my healthy alternative to the famous loose meat sandwich that I spoke of earlier. if you want to "kick it old school" use lean ground beef and you can even rinse it before you add the ingredients.
You will need:
1 pound ground lean ground turkey
2T apple cider vinegar
1t salt
2T prepared mustard
2T ketchup
2T onion flakes (or less if you desire)
1 1/2 cups of boiling vegetable broth
Lightly brown the turkey breaking it up as you go. I boil the broth at the same time and add the onion flakes to the broth to soften them. Add the vinegar, salt, mustard and ketchup to the turkey then add the broth. Simmer until tender and moisture is absorbed, stirring occasionally so it doesn't stick.
I have it on a whole wheat bun with dill pickles, a slice of American cheese if you prefer and mustard (no ketchup is a tradition with this sandwich).
Let me know if you try this, and Id like to thank my HS classmate Tammy for the original recipe a couple of years ago. We have used it often.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Lots of Butter
It feels like forever since I sat at this keyboard to write about this new "food attitude". I just looked and June 14th was my last post.
So much has happened since I posted last that Id like to share; Sarah is settled in her apartment in Charlotte. I visited over the holiday weekend and everything seems to be moving along as planned. Tom is getting ready for his semi annual trip to the mountains to ride motorcycles with his long time riding buddy Dave. With the house to myself I am following a Mediterranean diet for the entire week to make it my personal best in weight loss.
Sarah's new apartment is nice and provides plenty of space for one person. She chose a bright pink couch (for those who know her this doesn't come as a surprise) with black accessories and a grey chair. When it comes to her kitchen she owns one pot and one pan (which also happen to be black and pink). I guess that if you plan to eat Ramon Noodles until you can grocery shop, this is fine. However, if you're trying to follow through with a commitment for weight loss its not quite enough. So, lacking utensils and a baking pan we ate meals out. Gratefully, Sarah has a love for trying new things and has ventured into the city enough to find some very interesting eateries. In the morning we would hit Starbucks(nothing new but we knew what we liked there). If you haven't been there in a while (and I don't frequent Starbucks as Tom makes the best coffee in Port St Lucie)they have a calorie count on the price card for some of their pastry selections, so I would choose that way. We would sit and chat over coffee and pastry each morning and while the croissant looked tempting I always chose something with a calorie count so that I could keep my food journal. When we ate lunch I would choose large salads with the dressing on the side. I'm not a lover of chicken in my salad so lots of veggies would help me keep full until dinner. We were on the go the whole time I was there so it was bottled water every time we left her apartment and small snacks between meals. I suggest whole grain Pringles (cheese or cool ranch are my favorite). Dinner was our splurge each night but never over the top and never desert (but we don't usually order desert). In fact we did get these wonderful looking caramel brownies from Amalie's (this great little french bakery, sandwich and coffee shop in the NODA area of Charlotte) we put them in the fridge at Sarah's and never ate them, I guess it was just nice to know they were there. There is this wonderful local fast food chain called Cook Out. They have the best burgers, but be careful, they let you choose the sides and you can get coleslaw (its delish) fries, hush puppies, a corn dog, chicken nuggets and a bevy of other things. The burgers are cooked on an open flame and I believe they are cooked to order, I had the bacon cheese burger, fries (they dont overload you with fries) and coleslaw. It was very good, $3.99 and included a drink.
All of this "off the wagon" eating kind of scared me. Although we didnt over eat and there was a lot of walking involved, I wasnt sure I wanted to step on the scale this morning. This said, I'm happy to report I have lost another pound.
13 pounds down, I hit the teens. That's 52 sticks of butter and that's a lot of butter.
Tomoorw Tom and I celebrate 11 years of wedded bliss. Im looking forward to going to going to our favorite restaurant for dinner. These days another challange means another lesson.
Until next time, Im going to keep on keeping on.
So much has happened since I posted last that Id like to share; Sarah is settled in her apartment in Charlotte. I visited over the holiday weekend and everything seems to be moving along as planned. Tom is getting ready for his semi annual trip to the mountains to ride motorcycles with his long time riding buddy Dave. With the house to myself I am following a Mediterranean diet for the entire week to make it my personal best in weight loss.
Sarah's new apartment is nice and provides plenty of space for one person. She chose a bright pink couch (for those who know her this doesn't come as a surprise) with black accessories and a grey chair. When it comes to her kitchen she owns one pot and one pan (which also happen to be black and pink). I guess that if you plan to eat Ramon Noodles until you can grocery shop, this is fine. However, if you're trying to follow through with a commitment for weight loss its not quite enough. So, lacking utensils and a baking pan we ate meals out. Gratefully, Sarah has a love for trying new things and has ventured into the city enough to find some very interesting eateries. In the morning we would hit Starbucks(nothing new but we knew what we liked there). If you haven't been there in a while (and I don't frequent Starbucks as Tom makes the best coffee in Port St Lucie)they have a calorie count on the price card for some of their pastry selections, so I would choose that way. We would sit and chat over coffee and pastry each morning and while the croissant looked tempting I always chose something with a calorie count so that I could keep my food journal. When we ate lunch I would choose large salads with the dressing on the side. I'm not a lover of chicken in my salad so lots of veggies would help me keep full until dinner. We were on the go the whole time I was there so it was bottled water every time we left her apartment and small snacks between meals. I suggest whole grain Pringles (cheese or cool ranch are my favorite). Dinner was our splurge each night but never over the top and never desert (but we don't usually order desert). In fact we did get these wonderful looking caramel brownies from Amalie's (this great little french bakery, sandwich and coffee shop in the NODA area of Charlotte) we put them in the fridge at Sarah's and never ate them, I guess it was just nice to know they were there. There is this wonderful local fast food chain called Cook Out. They have the best burgers, but be careful, they let you choose the sides and you can get coleslaw (its delish) fries, hush puppies, a corn dog, chicken nuggets and a bevy of other things. The burgers are cooked on an open flame and I believe they are cooked to order, I had the bacon cheese burger, fries (they dont overload you with fries) and coleslaw. It was very good, $3.99 and included a drink.
All of this "off the wagon" eating kind of scared me. Although we didnt over eat and there was a lot of walking involved, I wasnt sure I wanted to step on the scale this morning. This said, I'm happy to report I have lost another pound.
13 pounds down, I hit the teens. That's 52 sticks of butter and that's a lot of butter.
Tomoorw Tom and I celebrate 11 years of wedded bliss. Im looking forward to going to going to our favorite restaurant for dinner. These days another challange means another lesson.
Until next time, Im going to keep on keeping on.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Double Digits
I hit double digit weight loss this week...I'm 10 pounds lighter than I was 4 weeks ago. My clothes are starting to look baggier. There is a down side to this, my very awesome DKNY denim carpis will soon be too big and I love those pants.
Tom fixed that flat tire in just a day or two so I was back on the road and riding my bike in no time at all. Its good to have a husband that cant stand for things to sit around broken, either fix it or get rid of it is his theory.
So, yes biking again and walking when I can (its our rainy season) and using the shake weight. I'm firming up and seeing the results. I'm no Charles Atlas (thank goodness) but I am a smaller Ginny than I was 4 weeks ago.
I know my mind is in a different place than it was when I started this transformation. I was watching Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition the other night. Have you seen it? A trainer spends a year working with a morbidly obese person and in the end they lose copious amounts of weight and look like a completely different person. Its touching and tear provoking television. The old Ginny would have sat on the couch eaten chips and thought WOW at least I'm not that big. The new Ginny watches with interest realizing that weight gain is so much more than over eating. There is a reason we eat more than we require and we need to figure out why. In my case, I overeat because I had little else to do and the things I enjoy doing most are sedentary activities. I love the beach and people watching, I love to read and write. I don't enjoy hauling my butt to a gym to touch dirty equipment. I cant imagine a spin class and a treadmill is just so boring. My goal is to eliminate taking medication for blood sugar and high blood pressure, I would like to accomplish this in a year, if I don't I will reset my goal. I'm the only one in this race and I determine the finish line. I wont let what others say influence me in a way to take me off this path.
Until next time.
Tom fixed that flat tire in just a day or two so I was back on the road and riding my bike in no time at all. Its good to have a husband that cant stand for things to sit around broken, either fix it or get rid of it is his theory.
So, yes biking again and walking when I can (its our rainy season) and using the shake weight. I'm firming up and seeing the results. I'm no Charles Atlas (thank goodness) but I am a smaller Ginny than I was 4 weeks ago.
I know my mind is in a different place than it was when I started this transformation. I was watching Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition the other night. Have you seen it? A trainer spends a year working with a morbidly obese person and in the end they lose copious amounts of weight and look like a completely different person. Its touching and tear provoking television. The old Ginny would have sat on the couch eaten chips and thought WOW at least I'm not that big. The new Ginny watches with interest realizing that weight gain is so much more than over eating. There is a reason we eat more than we require and we need to figure out why. In my case, I overeat because I had little else to do and the things I enjoy doing most are sedentary activities. I love the beach and people watching, I love to read and write. I don't enjoy hauling my butt to a gym to touch dirty equipment. I cant imagine a spin class and a treadmill is just so boring. My goal is to eliminate taking medication for blood sugar and high blood pressure, I would like to accomplish this in a year, if I don't I will reset my goal. I'm the only one in this race and I determine the finish line. I wont let what others say influence me in a way to take me off this path.
Until next time.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
FLAT!!!
I'm late posting this week, Id love to tell you its because I'm so busy exercising, but that would be a lie...my bike has a flat tire. I have stepped up walking and it really has not made a difference. Riding my bike must be better for me, I know I feel better after I ride it and am ready for my day. I guess I will get the innertube and get moving again. I'm going to start taking it places to ride, I'm starting in this great area that has everything, a place to ride, parks and a nice shopping area (hey, shopping can be exercise). I digress...anyway not having my bike this week has shown me that exercise works. I have still walked and used the shake weight, my blood sugar is down and on the scale...I'm exactly where I was a week ago....on the positive side of that I didn't gain...I just didn't lose. I'm still trying recipes from the book and have come up with a few of my own low carb dinners that are actually quite tasty.
Ive read that big changes in ones life have a lot to do with weight loss. Recently my daughter moved to Charlotte NC. It was time and I give her credit for taking this leap of faith, but I do miss her and since currently she is couch surfing with a few friends, I worry not because she isn't able, not because she isn't ready, I worry only because I am her mom...no other reason...its silly I know but that is why.
So this week my weight loss much like my tire was flat. Ive seen the scale go up a pound and down a pound and in the end I'm the same.
Ive read that big changes in ones life have a lot to do with weight loss. Recently my daughter moved to Charlotte NC. It was time and I give her credit for taking this leap of faith, but I do miss her and since currently she is couch surfing with a few friends, I worry not because she isn't able, not because she isn't ready, I worry only because I am her mom...no other reason...its silly I know but that is why.
So this week my weight loss much like my tire was flat. Ive seen the scale go up a pound and down a pound and in the end I'm the same.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Going Strong
WOW...week 2 came and went and I have shed another 2.3 pounds....dont know where they went and hope I dont ever see them again. My blood sugar has been below 120 everyday and until I lose more weight I dont know if I can do better that. This isnt so difficut and the dicscovery process is fun and interesting.
If I had to pin point my "ahah's"this week it has to be regarding my food journal. It seems that keeping rack of everything I eat makes me stop and think about what I am eating. Also, when trying new foods such as we are, reading through a recipe first makes it easier to make.I read through when I am looking for something to try and again before I start. This way I know what Im doing next.
Im happy to report that exercise has begun. I use my Shake Weight (yes I said Shake Weight). I dont care for the teeny tiny girl on the video with her perfect hair and perfect body, where are her jiggely arms? but just the same I am doing this religously. Tom dusted off my bike and filled the tires with air. Im riding 1/2 hour a day in the morning before I hit my daily grind. I get out of the office twice a day to walk for 10 minutes each time. So, lets add it up...the Shake Weight 15 minutes+ Riding 30 minutes + 20 minutes of walking around the building per day=65 minutes. After a close look at my last exercise program and consulting my planner this is 65 minutes more per day than I was doing. Not bad.
This week Im introducing Tom to turkey burgers with feta cheese and dill, sounds yummy and I cant wait. He is being a good sport about all of this but he knows he benefits as well.
Until I write again, be sure to pay attention to your "ahah moments" they may help you find a bettter way to do things.
If I had to pin point my "ahah's"this week it has to be regarding my food journal. It seems that keeping rack of everything I eat makes me stop and think about what I am eating. Also, when trying new foods such as we are, reading through a recipe first makes it easier to make.I read through when I am looking for something to try and again before I start. This way I know what Im doing next.
Im happy to report that exercise has begun. I use my Shake Weight (yes I said Shake Weight). I dont care for the teeny tiny girl on the video with her perfect hair and perfect body, where are her jiggely arms? but just the same I am doing this religously. Tom dusted off my bike and filled the tires with air. Im riding 1/2 hour a day in the morning before I hit my daily grind. I get out of the office twice a day to walk for 10 minutes each time. So, lets add it up...the Shake Weight 15 minutes+ Riding 30 minutes + 20 minutes of walking around the building per day=65 minutes. After a close look at my last exercise program and consulting my planner this is 65 minutes more per day than I was doing. Not bad.
This week Im introducing Tom to turkey burgers with feta cheese and dill, sounds yummy and I cant wait. He is being a good sport about all of this but he knows he benefits as well.
Until I write again, be sure to pay attention to your "ahah moments" they may help you find a bettter way to do things.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
???...----- what it meant
Recently I registered my cell phone so that I could blog on the go, as if I dont have time to sit in the evening and put some words together, but hey I tried. I didnt really work, after I hit send, not once but twice, I realized that I didnt send words but mostly punctuation marks. i guess i need to work on the "text blogging"
What it said was this:
Me to Tom "Honey can you tell I hve lost 5.7 pounds?"
Tom: "Yes I can"
Me: Really? Where do you ee it the most?
Tom: Long Pause..."Hmmm"
Me: Big Goofy Smile
Tom: "I cant win this one can I?"
Me: I shake my head no and laugh
My family right now is saying: "Poor Tom"
What it said was this:
Me to Tom "Honey can you tell I hve lost 5.7 pounds?"
Tom: "Yes I can"
Me: Really? Where do you ee it the most?
Tom: Long Pause..."Hmmm"
Me: Big Goofy Smile
Tom: "I cant win this one can I?"
Me: I shake my head no and laugh
My family right now is saying: "Poor Tom"
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Power On
The first week of this journey is about to come to a close and I have lost 5.7 pounds. This is exciting for me, I like seeing results. I'm not in a hurry to lose the weight, I'd like to lose it forever, and I don't want to look like I melted. Over next few week I will be in search of an exercise program that will work for me. I may walk or ride my bike or use a combination of the two, I know for sure that weight training will be necessary to tone my arms. For activity yesterday Tom and I went to the beach and walked against the waves, its fun but it burns calories too, we both slept well.
One of my first self imposed rules was to weigh myself every single day. Good or bad, and to record this somewhere. Same with food, to record EVERYTHING I eat GOOD OR BAD (yikes). In his suggestions, my brother mentioned he uses an iPhone app to record a food diary called Nutrition Menu by shroomies.com, so I searched my Droid for something similar and found Calorie Counter. besides having preloaded information in the app it I can scan bar codes, enters nutrition information, calculated an RDI for me and lets me know how close I am to reaching maximum intake, gives me a place to make comments and record exercise. I can also record my weight, and it shows a graph of the loss or gain. In the morning after I weigh I record my weight and my blood sugar. Its very helpful to see this daily to track my own progress I have found it encouraging so far. Another plus is that using this app on my Droid means I can never ever lose my phone again (win win).
I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the cookbook, everything looked so good. I enlisted the help of my sister inlaw, Shelley, who sent me their favorite recipes and page numbers to make it even easier. I read through the entire recipe before I started and it was actually quite simmple. I have fed this family so much chicken this week Im surprised they arent clucking, I will be adding in fish this week. so far they have enjoyed what I have made, and I have enjoyed the left overs the next day for lunch. I cant convince Tom that a turkey burger grilled is as good as a hamburger, for now him eating what I eat is fine and I will work on his attitude about ground beef later. The recipe book suggests that I build a Mediterrean pantry and Im working on it, I kow from experience that having the ingredients on hand is the easiest way to make the recipes I believe will bring me success.
I lost 5.7 pounds this week. But this isn't just about losing weight, it's about learning something new. So what did I learn? I like myself, and I even like my body, I'd stay as I am if it meant that I didnt have to take medication, but currently I do so here is my goal: Numbers down that means on the scale, blood pressure and blood sugar.
To borrow a line from my cousin Trish...Power On
One of my first self imposed rules was to weigh myself every single day. Good or bad, and to record this somewhere. Same with food, to record EVERYTHING I eat GOOD OR BAD (yikes). In his suggestions, my brother mentioned he uses an iPhone app to record a food diary called Nutrition Menu by shroomies.com, so I searched my Droid for something similar and found Calorie Counter. besides having preloaded information in the app it I can scan bar codes, enters nutrition information, calculated an RDI for me and lets me know how close I am to reaching maximum intake, gives me a place to make comments and record exercise. I can also record my weight, and it shows a graph of the loss or gain. In the morning after I weigh I record my weight and my blood sugar. Its very helpful to see this daily to track my own progress I have found it encouraging so far. Another plus is that using this app on my Droid means I can never ever lose my phone again (win win).
I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the cookbook, everything looked so good. I enlisted the help of my sister inlaw, Shelley, who sent me their favorite recipes and page numbers to make it even easier. I read through the entire recipe before I started and it was actually quite simmple. I have fed this family so much chicken this week Im surprised they arent clucking, I will be adding in fish this week. so far they have enjoyed what I have made, and I have enjoyed the left overs the next day for lunch. I cant convince Tom that a turkey burger grilled is as good as a hamburger, for now him eating what I eat is fine and I will work on his attitude about ground beef later. The recipe book suggests that I build a Mediterrean pantry and Im working on it, I kow from experience that having the ingredients on hand is the easiest way to make the recipes I believe will bring me success.
I lost 5.7 pounds this week. But this isn't just about losing weight, it's about learning something new. So what did I learn? I like myself, and I even like my body, I'd stay as I am if it meant that I didnt have to take medication, but currently I do so here is my goal: Numbers down that means on the scale, blood pressure and blood sugar.
To borrow a line from my cousin Trish...Power On
Monday, May 16, 2011
All In
I was up and actually did it..Hopped on the Scale and after I got over the "sticker shock" I knew I had made the right decision to travel through this journey this way. I need a commitment to myself and I need to be accountable. this is a promise I have made to me.
Oh my gosh, one dish from the Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook and I'm ready to try another. Tonight I made Caprese Style Chicken Breasts and it was delicious. If this is how you lose weight I'm all in. I actually ate breakfast this morning and a nice lunch this afternoon. I made enough dinner tonight to take left overs for lunch tomorrow. Something new everyday is exciting, Tomorrow night a chicken and rice dish that looks delish.
For now a good nights sleep is in order because in the morning...I RIDE!
Oh my gosh, one dish from the Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook and I'm ready to try another. Tonight I made Caprese Style Chicken Breasts and it was delicious. If this is how you lose weight I'm all in. I actually ate breakfast this morning and a nice lunch this afternoon. I made enough dinner tonight to take left overs for lunch tomorrow. Something new everyday is exciting, Tomorrow night a chicken and rice dish that looks delish.
For now a good nights sleep is in order because in the morning...I RIDE!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
At the Hopping On Point
Anyone who has known me for any amount of time has heard me say that as body types go I'm shaped like a brick. I don't always enjoy being shaped like this but I always figured it was the card I was dealt and that I needed to play that card as best as I could. I have read many articles on body type learning to hide a multitude of sin, giving me shape and without looking like I am wearing a sack. And while I have mastered the art of dressing my brick-like self, I have recently found out that being built like this at this age (52) I am susceptible to certain health maladies such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Needless to say I really don't want to take medication for the rest of my life for something that is reversible. With some work and lifestyle changes I can undo the damage that I have done (that's right I am owning this one folks).
This said, I have been mapping out a weight loss journey that I believe will be successful. Armed with the desire, the support of a wonderful family, a cookbook, a mentor and a scale (a new addition to our house), I plan to cook, exercise and blog my way to a slender, healthy me.
I have never used a cookbook like this before but I am following the advice of the author and guidance of a fabulous mentor. My wish is to become a student of this journey, I want to learn, grow and change my relationship with food. I enjoy food, I hope I always will. Its part of life, part of socializing, I love lunch out but this is my health. I don't plan on being one of those fanatical anti-food people who say things like "I don't live to eat I eat to live." (Oh, okay). So I'm at the "Hopping On (the scale)Point" I'm excited and I while I wont reveal how much I weigh I will let you know when I have lost and what I have gained.
Finally you may ask: Why the blog? That is easy. In a word accountability to keep myself going. I believe that reporting in and seeing my own progress will be helpful and even if this is only read by a few it will be worth it to me.
I'm ready to begin...
This said, I have been mapping out a weight loss journey that I believe will be successful. Armed with the desire, the support of a wonderful family, a cookbook, a mentor and a scale (a new addition to our house), I plan to cook, exercise and blog my way to a slender, healthy me.
I have never used a cookbook like this before but I am following the advice of the author and guidance of a fabulous mentor. My wish is to become a student of this journey, I want to learn, grow and change my relationship with food. I enjoy food, I hope I always will. Its part of life, part of socializing, I love lunch out but this is my health. I don't plan on being one of those fanatical anti-food people who say things like "I don't live to eat I eat to live." (Oh, okay). So I'm at the "Hopping On (the scale)Point" I'm excited and I while I wont reveal how much I weigh I will let you know when I have lost and what I have gained.
Finally you may ask: Why the blog? That is easy. In a word accountability to keep myself going. I believe that reporting in and seeing my own progress will be helpful and even if this is only read by a few it will be worth it to me.
I'm ready to begin...
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